Quakers joined other campaigners to celebrate the end of the SDSC arms fair at Telford International Centre. Friends are now encouraged to sign an open letter to National Exhibition Centre, urging them not to host the fair in February.

A giant paper-maché Peace dove joined campaigners from Telford and the wider West Midlands to deliver a letter signed by nearly 200 individuals, and local & regional organisations, including faith groups, trades unions and peace groups expressing delight that the Specialist Defence and Security Convention (SDSC-UK), will no longer be hosted  at Telford International Centre.

Stop SDSC-UK has brought together peace campaigners, including the local Telford Quaker Meeting, other Quakers (including many from Central England), the Peace Pledge Union, the Fellowship of Reconciliation,  the Methodist Peace Fellowship and the Campaign Against the Arms Trade with other campaign groups such as Extinction Rebellion and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

SDSC-UK trades weapons that kill civilians in Yemen, Sudan, Congo and the Palestinian occupied territories. The Stop SDSC – UK campaign group has protested regularly outside the Telford venue, handing out information flyers highlighting the Centre’s link with the SDSC-UK to attendees arriving for the Methodist Conference of Great Britain and  Christmas Pantomime goers.   

Jo Hindley, retired midwife from Cotteridge Local Meeting said:

“Having previously visited the Centre for a midwifery conference I  was appalled that the same venue could affirm life one week and condone killing the next. Today, dressed as a peace dove, I celebrated that the International Centre is  now re-aligned with family-friendly, life-affirming, peaceful values”. 

A similar campaign successfully moved on the Arms Fair from a  previous venue in Malvern. SDSC-UK is advertising that it is going to be held at the National Exhibition Centre in February 2026. Friends are encouraged to sign an open letter to the NEC Group, urging them not to host the arms fair.